U.S. House Passes Bill to Remove Gray Wolves From Endangered Species List
The U.S. House of Representatives has approved the Pet and Livestock Protection Act, a bill that would remove the gray wolf from protections under the Endangered Species Act—a move that’s already drawing strong reactions across Northern California and beyond.
Rep. Doug LaMalfa praised the vote, arguing that gray wolf populations have expanded to the point where federal protections are limiting effective management. He pointed to growing concerns in Northeast California, including Siskiyou County, where wolves have been reported increasingly close to rural communities and school areas. Supporters of the bill say delisting would allow states greater flexibility to manage wolf populations and better protect livestock and public safety.
The legislation directs the Department of the Interior to delist the gray wolf and would prevent the decision from being challenged in court.
Wildlife advocacy groups, however, strongly oppose the measure. Humane World for Animals called the House vote a serious threat to wolf recovery efforts, arguing that wolves are still absent from much of their historic range and remain vulnerable to aggressive hunting practices. The organization points to Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming, where wolves lost federal protections and are now subject to year-round killing methods, including aerial gunning and bounties.
Opponents also argue the bill bypasses science-based decision-making by overriding the Endangered Species Act’s established review process. Humane World for Animals has filed legal action seeking to require the federal government to reassess wolf protections across the Northern Rocky Mountains.
The bill now moves to the U.S. Senate, where its future remains uncertain amid growing debate over wolf management, conservation, and rural safety concerns in the West.
